What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).

Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainville	Lancaster
People
Population	9,943Highest	8,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
	Plainville and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Plainville and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	50.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Plainville and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA
	Lancaster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA
	Lancaster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,977±$197Lowest 12% above MA	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
	Lancaster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,329Lowest 11% below MA	$7,235Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±13.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#102 of 282 in MA	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainville	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.